4 new state ministers and 4 deputy ministers were sworn in before President Maithripala Sirisena today.

Former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Harsha de Silva was appointed as the Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Policy Implementation, which is under the purview of Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe.

Former Public Enterprise Development Deputy Minister Eran Wickramaratne was appointed as the State Minister of Finance while Lasantha Alagiyawanna, the former Deputy Minister of Megapolis and Western Development, has been appointed as the Deputy Minister of Finance and Mass Media.

With the appointment of Lasantha Alagiyawanna, the post of Deputy Minister of Megapolis and Western Development remains vacant.

Lakshman Yapa Abeywardane who formally held the post of State Finance Minister, was appointed as the State Minister of Public Enterprise Development.

Wasantha Senanayake who was the State Minister of Irrigation was appointed as the State Minister of Foreign Affairs.

It is significant that previously, state ministers were not appointed for the portfolios of foreign affairs and public enterprise development.

It is also important to note that a deputy minister for foreign affairs has not been appointed.

Palitha Range Bandara who previously held the post of State Minister of Skills Development and Vocational Training was appointed as the State Minister of Irrigation.

Karunaratne Paranavithane who was the Deputy Minister of Parliamentary Reforms and Mass Media, was appointed as the Deputy Minister of Skills Development and Vocational Training.

Meanwhile, during the previous cabinet reshuffle, the ministerial portfolios of Social Empowerment, Welfare and Kandyan Heritage were merged under one ministry.

As such Ranjan Ramanayake who held the post of Deputy Minister of Social Empowerment and Welfare was sworn in as the Deputy Minister of Kandyan Heritage.

Subsequent to the latest reshuffle, the number of deputy minsters has reduced from 25 to 24, while the number of state ministers has risen to 22 from the previous number of 21.

Meanwhile, a senior minister speaking to our new team said there would be a reshuffle in the posts of ministry secretaries as well.

He also stated that the gazette detailing the change in ministerial portfolios will also be issued this week.